Outlaws Motorcycle Club's 'enforcer' ordered to stay in federal custody

OFF THE WIRE
Carrie Ritchie
 indianapolis news
One of the leaders of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club has been ordered to stay in federal custody until his trial.
Federal magistrate judge Denise LaRue said during a hearing Wednesday that attorneys for Joshua Bowser, the club’s “enforcer,” didn’t present strong enough arguments to keep him out of jail.

Bowser was among 42 arrested on July 11 in an FBI raid of the club’s Eastside clubhouse. Those arrested face a total of 37 counts of federal charges ranging from mail fraud to money laundering to drug trafficking.

All 42 are scheduled for trial Sept. 10, but the trial likely will be pushed back, said assistant U.S. attorney Brad Blackington, the lead prosecutor on the case.

Most appeared in court last week or are scheduled for hearings this week and next week. So far, only three have been ordered to remain in custody, Blackington said. Six have been released.

Some of the people who were released weren’t in the gang but are accused of participating in crimes associated with the gang. Blackington said he planned to appeal the release of one of the alleged gang members, James W. Bain.

Prosecutors worry that, because of the gang’s alleged history of violence, members could try to hurt people, especially potential witnesses, if they’re released before the trial.

“Since it’s happened before, we believe it could very well happen again, and that’s a very big concern of ours,” Blackington said.

Bowser, who Blackington said is among the most dangerous members, was the first of the gang’s leaders to have a detention hearing.

As “enforcer,” Bowser made sure members followed the club’s rules.

According to the indictment, Bowser also threatened people who owed money to club members or their associates to collect the debts. He told an undercover FBI agent posing as someone who owed money that he made people “disappear” if they didn’t cooperate.

Juval Scott, an attorney for Bowser, declined to comment after Wednesday’s hearing.

The club’s current president, Michael Knoll, and treasurer, Kent Whitinger, are scheduled to appear in court Friday. Former president Bryan Glaze is scheduled to appear Monday.
Follow Star reporter Carrie Ritchie on Twitter at twitter.com/CarrieRitchie. Call her at (317) 444-2751.